Uninvited Guests, Red Clouds on Black in the Morning Mist

Five forty-seven in the morning.

Outside Konoha, a thick, impenetrable layer of white mist floated on the surface of the Naka River.

The sound of the river was very soft, like someone scratching glass with their fingernails.

The fog swirled across the river, engulfing the reeds on both banks, reducing visibility to no more than ten meters.

Asuma Sarutobi, who was in charge of patrolling the outer perimeter of the eastern district, walked along the riverbank with an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips.

Kurenai Yūhi, who followed half a step behind, tucked her long hair behind her ear and scanned the mist with her gaze.

"This fog is a bit eerie today."

Asuma moved the cigarette from the left corner of his mouth to the right.

Hong didn't respond.

Her pupils suddenly contracted.

Two figures could be seen in the fog.

Earth Flow over very slowly.

Unhurriedly, his footsteps rippled the water's surface, barely creating a few waves.

Straw hat.

A long black robe.

Red cloud pattern.

Asuma dropped his cigarette.

His hand had already gripped the Asuma's Chakra Blades at his waist, his knuckles tensing to their limit in an instant.

He had seen the style of those two cloaks on an S-rank wanted poster issued by the Anbu.

Dawn.

"Red, step back and give notification--"

He hadn't finished speaking.

The tall figure on the right suddenly ripped off his straw hat, revealing a gray-blue shark face.

Samehada sprang from his back, its scales hissing as they opened and closed.

"We've been discovered."

Kisame Hoshigaki licked the triangular fangs at the corner of his mouth. "Itachi-san, what do we do with these two in the way?"

The figure on the left hadn't removed his straw hat.

Only half of his pale chin was visible from under the brim of his hat, along with a very soft voice:

"A swift and decisive victory."

Kisame smiled.

Samehada across.

Three minutes.

In just three minutes, Asuma's two Asuma's Chakra Blades began to chip.

He knelt on one knee on the riverbank, his right arm hanging down, the muscles in his forearm spasming—the attack just now, Samehada had grazed his arm and completely drained a third of his Chakra.

Hong was three meters behind him, his hands still holding the tiger seal.

The tree-like technique she had just used was burned through by Itachi 'Fire Release without him even glancing at it.

The Genjutsu was even more outrageous—the moment she trapped Itachi with her magical Tree Binding Death, the scene reversed.

It was clearly her who cast the spell, but the next second she was the one tied to the tree.

The red back is pressed against the real ground.

Cold sweat trickled down his temples.

This was the first time since she entered the Shinobi World that she had encountered a situation where her Genjutsu was reflected back exactly as it was.

"Don't use Genjutsu like that on the Uchiha."

The weasel's voice came from the mist, as calm as if it were stating the weather.

Asuma gritted his teeth and stood up, shielding Red behind him.

He knew.

He couldn't handle the second round.

"Hidden Leaf's Jonin are more fragile than I imagined."

Kisame walked over carrying Samehada, his shark eyes full of amusement. "Should I cut off their legs? That way we won't have to run off to report?"

Asuma's hands were trembling.

It's not fear.

It is the muscle's spontaneous reaction after it loses its Chakra supply.

He didn't back down.

Hong got up from the ground and stood beside him.

Their eyes met; neither said a word, but both understood each other's meaning.

Drag.

We must hold out until reinforcements arrive, no matter what.

Kisame raised Samehada.

A silver light pierced through the mist--

"Bang!"

Chakra hurricane whipped up mist from the river's surface, and a hand crackling with lightning precisely blocked Samehada's downward trajectory, parrying the giant sword three inches away.

Kakashi Hatake hand and landed in front of Asuma and Kurenai, his Forehead Protector his left eye already pushed up.

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan, its pupils reflecting two dark figures in the mist.

"Asuma, Kurenai, you two retreat first."

Kakashi's tone remained nonchalant, but his right hand, hanging at his side, had its five fingers slightly spread, with fine lightning emanating from its fingertips—the highest level of combat readiness.

Kisame took two steps back, Samehada planted on the ground, tilting his head to examine him.

"Copy Ninja Kakashi Hatake. Itachi-san, isn't he worthy of your attention?"

The fog has lifted somewhat.

The weasel slowly removed its straw hat.

That unbelievably young face was revealed.

Twenty-one years old.

His face was as pale as paper.

Two deep tear troughs are visible under my eyes.

The Mangekyō Sharingan slowly opened.

Three black Tomoe connect to form a triangular cyclical pattern, silently rotating within the scarlet iris.

Kakashi's breath hitched for a second.

The instant his Sharingan clashed with Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan, a chilling premonition surged from the depths of his soul, exploding wildly—

Cannot be viewed.

Avoid eye contact.

Those eyes held an abyss.

"Mr. Kakashi"

Itachi's voice was completely flat and emotionless, "You are not from the Uchiha Clan. You cannot fight against these eyes."

Kakashi wanted to close his eyes.

The body stopped moving.

An extremely terrifying feeling, as if locked by some higher-dimensional force, spread from the limbs to the torso and finally reached the brain.

He could feel his consciousness being pulled downwards by an irresistible force—like sinking into a swamp.

The patterns of the Mangekyo Sharingan magnified in his pupils.

Put

Zoom in again.

It has already taken over the entire field of vision.

"Moon--"

The itachi's lips moved.

Kakashi's mind went blank.

The shouts of Asuma and Red behind them seemed extremely distant.

This second was stretched out infinitely.

"--read."

The second word was uttered at the same time--

**boom.

**

A golden beam of light crashed down from directly above Kakashi.

It's not a metaphor.

It was a real, visible golden pillar of energy, carrying scorching heat and a shockwave that shattered the ground, which struck directly between Kakashi and Itachi.

The riverbank was blown up.

Gravel flew everywhere.

The water vapor evaporated instantly due to the high temperature.

Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan was forced off Kakashi's face—his vision was cut off.

Tsukuyomi is suspended.

Kakashi's body swayed violently, and he staggered three steps backward before Asuma caught him.

His face was deathly pale, his mask was soaked with cold sweat, and his breathing was rapid and shallow.

Just now... a fraction of a second off.

It was so close.

The golden light faded.

Amidst the smoke and dust, a figure stood straight in front of Cassie.

Hands in pockets.

Her blonde hair billowed backward in the heat.

The hem of the short black jacket was still fluttering slightly.

The figure was extremely young and tall, yet exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression that was completely disproportionate to its age.

He turned his head, his azure pupils glancing at Kakashi from the corner of his eye.

"Copy Ninja almost got hypnotized? Kakashi-sensei, you really give me a lot to worry about."

The tone was casual.

With a smile.

But there was not a trace of a smile in those eyes.

Naruto turned around and looked directly at Itachi Uchiha.

Gold and scarlet clashed in the morning mist.

The corners of his mouth slowly curled up, revealing an extremely arrogant and clearly provocative arc.

"Playing a staring game in front of someone's house so early in the morning?"

He slightly raised his chin and looked down at Itachi.

"Uchiha, who gave you the audacity?"

Silence.

The sound of the river stopped.

Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan slowly moved from Naruto's face to the center of his pupil.

Those scarlet eyes—for the first time, showed a barely perceptible contraction.

He was using Mangekyo Sharingan to analyze the Chakra within the twelve-year-old child in front of him.

Then, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Sun.

The absolute report flashed through my mind--

"Like the sun."

Kisame peeked out from behind Itachi, his shark-like eyes scrutinizing Naruto.

His mouth split open, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.

"Oh?"

He licked the corner of his lips.

"This brat is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

Samehada was hoisted onto his shoulder, making an excited crunching sound—the living greatsword, sensing the immense energy within Naruto's body, had its scales opening and closing wildly, like a hungry wolf that had smelled blood.

"Looks like this will save us a lot of trouble."

Naruto didn't look at him.

His gaze remained fixed on Itachi.

Like watching prey that has already been spotted.

Behind her, Kurenai Yūhi looked at the blond figure's back, and her tense shoulders relaxed.

His fingers slid off the Kunai and hung down at his sides.

A string that had been stretched for too long in my chest snapped.

Breath returned to my lungs.

--He's here.

That's all right then.

Naruto pulled his right hand out of his pocket and slowly moved his fingers.

Spread your fingers open, then close them again.

The joints made a crisp clicking sound.

"Itachi Uchiha."

He pronounced the name, the last syllable rising in pitch.

"Your eyes—"

Something began to glow deep within the golden pupils.

It's not Byakugan.

It's a light that's even more dangerous than that.

"Let me see if it's really worth my time."

The morning mist gathered and then dispersed.

On the river, two completely different auras collided.

The air is burning.